Gyromagnetic resonance methods and apparatus



Dec. 26, 1967 BLOOM ET AL 3,360,717

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TTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,360,717 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 7 Claims. (0. 324- This application is a division of our copending application, Ser. No. 602,127 filed Aug. 6, 1956, and now abandoned, for improvements in Gyromagnetic Resonance Methods and Apparatus.

This invention relates generally to the field of gyromagnetic resonance and the invention has reference, more particularly, to the measurement of the thermal relaxation time (T of gyromagnetic atom portions, such as nuclei, in magnetic fields, said measurement being made of freely precessing atom portions, the said invention being especially useful in connection with chemical analysis and exploring oil wells.

There is disclosed in US. patent application SenNo. 264,821 filed J an. 3, 1952 by Russell H. Varian entitled Apparatus and Method for Identifying Substances a gyromagnetic resonance system for determining the presence of certain substances by the measurement of the signal decay relaxation time (T i.e., the time it takes for freely precessing atom portions, such as protons, to reach a predetermined state of out-of-phase' precession. Such a measurement is particularly useful in determining the presence and relative quantity of oil protons in a well bore. The present invention discloses methods and means for determining thermal relaxation times (T of such atom portions, such relaxation times T being valuable in many instances for chemically analyzing substances such as, for example, oil in a well bore.

The object of the present invention is to provide novel methods and means for determining the presence of desired compounds by means of the thermal relaxation time (T of their nuclear interactions in magnetic fields.

One feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel method and means for polarizing the gyromagnetic atom portions in a sample of matter located in a first magnetic field in a series of successive stages, the polarization changing in strength progressively in the statges, and detecting the free precession of the atom portions in the first magnetic field after each stage of polarization, the initial amplitude of the free precession signals varying in accordance with the strength of polarization, the envelope of these successive initial amplitudes producing a polarization curve from which the thermal relaxation time of the sample may be determined.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a novel method and apparatus to determine the presence of desired substances, such as petroleum, by setting up a polarizing magnetic field for polarizing the nuclei of the substance, suddenly removing said field and detecting the nuclear precessions in the earths field and determining the time required for fully polarizing said nuclei in order to observe said precession, the latter time serving as an indication of the thermal relaxation time.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel and accurate method and means for detecting the presence of petroleum beneath the earths surface; the said method comprising inserting into a bore in the earth the novel means of this invention capable of producing and detecting precessions of nuclei and measuring the thermal relaxation times (T of such nuclei, to thereby accurately determine the presence of petroleum owing to the known precessional properties of petroleum.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide method and apparatus to determine the thermal relaxation time in difierent magnetic fields by setting up a polarizing magnetic field for polarizing the nuclei of the substance, reducing said field to a known residual value for a known length of time, suddenly removing said field entirely and then measuring the nuclear precessions in the earths field to determine the time required for said polarization to decay in the residuel field.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide method and apparatus to determine the thermal relaxation time in the same magnetic field used for observing nuclear precession by setting up a polarizing magnetic field for polarizing the nuclei, reducing said field to zero in such a way that the nuclei remain oriented in the precession field, without precessing, and then induce precession by applying a pulse of alternating magnetic field at the precession frequency.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide novel method and apparatus for use in determining the thermal relaxation time T of a gyromagnetic sample by polarizing the atom portions in a series of short pulses of polarizing field so as to build up to full polarization in a series of steps, and detecting the free precession signals of the atom portions between each polarizing step, the peak amplitudes of the free precession signals giving a polarization rise curve from which the thermal relaxation time T may be determined.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a perusal of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the invention is embodied in concrete form.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principal components of a well logging apparatus which embodies the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of components of FIG. 1 adapted to be inserted into a well bore,

FIG. 3 is a general view of the signal apparatus of FIG. 1 suspended in a well,

- FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the sequencing circuit of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5a shows typical superimposed oscilloscope traces produced by the apparatus of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5b shows a plurality of polarization decay curves produced for different mixtures of chemical substances, each curve showing a mixture having different proportions of chemical substances,

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the present invention for determining relaxation time T FIG. 7a shows typical superimposed oscilloscope traces obtained with the apparatus of FIG. 6,

FIG. 7 b shows a plurality of polarization decay curves produced for different mixtures of chemical substances, each curve showing a mixture having different proportions of chemical substances,

FIG. 8 shows in block diagram form still another em bodiment of the present invention for determining thermal relaxation times of gyromagnetic atom portions such as nuclei,

FIG. 9 depicts in block diagram form another embodiment of the present invention for determining the thermal relaxation time of gyromagnetic atom portions in substances, and

'FIG. 10 is a trace showing the free precession signals Obtained with the apparatus of FIG. 9.

Similar reference numerals are used in all of the above figures to indicate corresponding parts.

In order for the reader to understand the principles of the present invention, it is essential that he be acquainted with the fundamental principles of free precession nuclear induction. In this connection, attention is called to US. Patent No. Re. 23,769 issued Jan. 12, 1954 to Russell H. Varian entitled Method and Means for Correlating Nuclear Properties of Atoms and Magnetic Fields.

There are essentially two independent and different sources of the damping forces in nuclear magnetic resonance. The first of these is the interaction of the precessing nuclei with the surrounding matter, which may cause the nucleus to transfer its energy of precession to the motion of nearby atoms. This damping force is truly a frictional force, for like the large-scale mechanical frictional forces, it changes kinetic energy into thermal energy. The second source of damping out of a signal is caused by the fact that not all nuclei are in exactly the same magnetic field and therefore do not have exactly the same precession frequency. As a result, nuclei which at a given time are precessing in phase, that is, with their axes all pointing in the same direction, may, after a sufficient amount of time, end up precessing in various phases. When this occurs it will be impossible to detect the presence of the precessions, even though the individual nuclei are precessing as before. Since the latter effect can be influenced by factors other than the properties of the matter containing the nuclei, it is desirable to measure the nuclear precession in such a way as to eliminate the effects other than the true damping or frictional forces. This can be accomplished by measuring the initial amplitude of the precessional signal as a function of the length of time the nucleus spends in a given polarizing magnetic field.

A quantity of great importance for present purposes is the time required for these damping forces to act and effect a change in polarization of the nuclei, and this time we call the thermal relaxation time (T Experiment shows that this time may have values extending from 10* seconds or less to many minutes or more. Fromthe above discussion on the source of the damping forces it is obvious that the thermal relaxation time depends on the surroundings of the individual nuclei. Thus, the nature of the compound containing the nucleus, the state of the substance, whether solid, liquid, or gas, the presence of dissolved foreign materials, and the temperature are some of the factors that influence the thermal relaxation time. Each substance in the pure state has its own characteristic thennal relaxation time.

For example, since the molecular composition of oil is quite different from that of water, the nuclear relaxation time for constituent hydrogen nuclei (or protons) is quite different for oil than for water. The present invention is particularly suited to detect oil even in the presence of water by virtue of said difference in thermal relaxation times.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the polarizing magnetic field is applied to the sample so as to polarize the atomic nuclei at an angle with respect to the precessional field vor field to be measured. The polarizing field is then quickly shut off, leaving the polarized magnetic moments to precess about the precessional magnetic field, for example, the earths field. It is required that the polarizing field shall be shut off in a time short compared to the relaxation time of the nuclei previously discussed. This requirement will be obvious if it is considered that there will be little or no polarization left if the polarizing field is shut off so slowly that the polarization can die out as the field decreases. It is also required that the polarizing field be reduced from a value equal to the precessional field to zero in a time short compared to one cycle of the nuclear precession. This requirement is not quite so obvious and no full explanation will be attempted here. It is well-known, however, from the theory of precessing gyroscopes that the axis around which precession takes place is parallel to the direction of the forces constituting the applied force couple causing the precession. If the direction of the applied force couple changes by only a small angle in each precession cycle, the axis around which precession takes place will follow quite exactly. Obviously the direction of the force couple during the time when the polarization field is decreasing is the resultant of the residual polarizing field and the field to be measured. The resultant does not begin to change its direction rapidly until the dying polarizing field and the field to be measured are of comparable magnitude. Since the nuclei precessing around the resultant field are equally distributed in all phases, their average direction of polarization is in the direction of the resultant field. If the polarization of magnetic moments is allowed to follow the resultant field until only the magnetic field used in measuring precession is left, the polarization of magnetic moments will be lined up with the precession field, and therefore will not precess. Although in some embodiments of this invention it is desirable to line up the polarization with the precession field, we shall assume for the time being that we Wish to avoid this result and, therefore, a large change in the direction of the resultant must occur in a time short compared to a cycle of the precession frequency. This is equivalent to the requirement above stated that the polarizing field be reduced from a value equal to the field to be measured to zero in a time short compared to a cycle of the precession frequency. This condition and the one regarding T are easily met in practice.

In the aforementioned reissue patent the free precessions following removal of a strong field are measured as to their frequency, so as to correlate the frequency of precession with the precessional field. The relaxation time is of no value, if it is not long enough to allow satisfactory determination of the frequency. In the aforementioned patent application, the signal decay relaxation time (T was determined by measuring the decay time of the nuclear free precession signal. In the present invention this is not the case. This invention includes no provision for frequency measurement or for T measurement, and in fact, the precessional frequency need be known only approximately, except in the event that it may be desirable to tune the apparatus to reject extraneous signals, or to apply driving pulses at the precession frequency as will be described herein. Instead, the present invention contains means for accurately measuring the thermal relaxation time (T of samples brought within range of the signal head.

The following description of certain embodiments of this invention describes the apparatus as designed for use in an oil well. However, other shapes and forms of the invention suitable for use in other fields such as, for example, process control or laboratory chemical analysis are to be considered within the scope of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is shown in block diagram form one embodiment of the present invention, subsequently described FIGS. 2 and 4 showing certain portions of this embodiment in more circuit detail. Reference numeral 1 designates a signal head adapted to be lowered into a well bore consisting of a coil of wire which serves the double purpose of applying a strong magnetic field to the sample, to produce nuclear polarization of the same, and picking up the signal produced by atomic nuclei precessing in the earths magnetic field. A non-linear resistor 2 is connected in parallel with coil 1, which makes it possible for the DC. magnetic field to be quickly damped out but limits the voltage surge, when the circuit is opened, to safe values when it is desired to pick up the nuclear free precessions. A rectifier 3 is utilized to rectify A.C., supplied from power source 4 above ground, into DC. for use by coil 1, so that said coil may produce a steady magnetic field at an angle to the earths magnetic field. Transformer 5 serves the double purpose of stepping down the AG. power supplied from above ground before application to rectifier 3, and of stepping up the weak nuclear induction voltage signals so that said signals may be transmitted to the sensitive detecting apparatus located above ground.

Switches 6 and 7 are employed for switching rectifier 3 in and out of the circuit of coil 1, depending on Whether or not coil 1 is being used for producing a polarizing D.C. magnetic field or for picking up the nuclear precession signals. The operation of switches 6 and 7 is controlled by the presence or absence of A.C. supply voltage on transformer said operation will be discussed in a later part of this specification.

The parts of the apparatus heretofore described, except power supply 4, are designed to be lowered into the well hole. They are suspended by cable 8 which also provides electrical conduits for supplying A.C. power to components within the well and for transmitting nuclear precession signals picked up by same to the surface. The remainder of the apparatus may be located above ground. Said apparatus comprises power source 4, which supplies A.C. power to the entire system, sequencer 9, which determines the time sequence of switching events, switches and 11, amplifier 12, detector 13, cathode ray oscilloscope 14, and its associated horizontal sweep generator 15.

The operation of this embodiment of the present invention is as follows. The sequencer 9 is arranged to operate switch 10 so as to connect cable 8 directly to power source 4 a plurality of times, the first time period during which relay 10 is held operated being substantially less than the estimated thermal relaxation time of the sample and each successive time period of operation of relay 10 being progressively longer, the last time period being somewhat longer than the estimated thermal relaxation time. For example, for water protons, the thermal relaxation time in the earths field is about three seconds and the first operation time for switch 10 would be about one second while the last operation time would be about six seconds. During each pulse of A.C. on cable '8, switches 6 and 7 operate so as to connect coil 1 to the power source 4 via rectifier 3 and transformer 5. Coil 1 is thus producing a steady polarizing magnetic field in the sample, i.e., the earth and material surrounding the coil in the well.'After each successive operation of switch 10, sequencer 9 operates switch 10 so as to disconnect cable 8 from power source 4 and thus remove the polarizing magnetic field. With no power on cable 8, switches 6 and 7 act in such a way as to connect coil 1 directly to transformer 5. Coil 1 can then transmit nuclear free precession signals to the surface via transformer 5 and cable 8 after each successive polarization pulse. After sufficient time has elapsed to allow the switching operation of switches 6 and 7 to take place, sequencer 9 operates switch 11 so as to connect cable 8 to amplifier 12. A condenser 16 shunted across the input of amplifier 12 forms a tuned circuit comprising said condenser, transformer 5 and coil 1. Said tuned circuit is tuned approximately to the frequency of the precessions picked up by coil 1. The series of successive nuclear induction signals produced in coil 1 are thus impressed on amplifier 12, and the amplifier signals are impressed on detector 13, which rectifies the alternating component of the signals and leaves only the exponentially decaying envelope. Each successive envelope signal is impressed on the vertical sweep of a cathode ray oscilloscope 14. The horizontal sweep of oscilloscope 14 is driven by a sweep generator 15 which starts the sweep each time switch 10 is actuated. The horizontal sweep thus starts at the same instant of time as each pulse of polarizing field is applied. The series of oscilloscope traces may be viewed directly or they may be photographed for inspection at a later time.

Thus it is clear that the device herein described polarizes the nuclei in a sample in a series of pulses of progressively longer periods of time, turns the polarizing field off after each pulse, then detects the free precession of the nuclei in the sample in the earths magnetic field after each polarization, and presents the successive free precession signals on the viewing screen of an oscilloscope. From the amplitudes and position of the successive signals on the oscilloscope screen, and the speed of the horizontal sweep of the oscilloscope, the thermal relaxation time T of the sample may be readily determined as illustrated by FIG. 5a which shows typical superimposed oscilloscope traces of nuclear free precession signals of protons in a mixture of oil and water produced by this embodiment when the horizontal sweep is a linear function of time. Trace (a) shows the free precession signal which is obtained when the polarizing magnetic field is left on for a time (t somewhat shorter than the thermal relaxation time of the nuclei, where the thermal relaxation time (T refers to the length of time of polarization it takes to obtain a nuclear free precession signal with an amplitude 63% of the amplitude of the free precession signal obtained after full polarization. Trace (b) shows the free precession signal when the polarizing time (1 is slightly longer than the thermal relaxation time. Trace (c) shows the free precession signal when the polarizing time (t is still longer than the relaxation time. It will be observed that the peak amplitudes of all these traces describe another curve (d) which shows directly how the nuclear polarization builds up as the polarizing time is increased. Thus curve (d) indicates the thermal relaxation time of the substance containing the nuclei.

FIG. 5b shows a plurality of superimposed thermal relaxation curves, trace (2) showing the curve for a substance A and trace (h) showing a curve for a substance B which has a relaxation time approximately ten times that of substance A. Traces (f) and (g) show the results of mixtures of the two substances in the proportions %A+ /3B and /sA-l- /aB, respectively. Thus it is easy to see how one may chemically analyze a substance or a mixture of substances of different relaxation times by means of the polarization decay curves.

A circuit diagram of the electrical apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 3 in the well is shown in detail in FIG. 2. Owing to the fact that this apparatus is partially isolated from its power supply, thermionic elements are preferably not used and only simple mechanical relays and dry rectifiers are employed. When A.C. power is supplied on cable 8, D.C. switch 7 is actuated, through rectifier 18, so that the blades thereof engage contacts 17. Switch 6, a polarized relay, is also actuated because one of its two actuating coils 19 is energized from the A.C. supply via a small rectifier 21, so that its blades engage contacts 22. Power is thus transmitted via transformer 5 to rectifier 3, which in turn supplies coil 1 with rectified A.C. current. The inductance of coil 1 is suflicient to filter the rectified A.C. into the necessary direct current. The actuation of switch 6 also closes the circuit for its holding coil 23, which is sensitive to voltages across coil 1.

When A.C. power is removed from line 8 by the abovementioned action of switch 10, switch 7 releases so that its contacts 24 are engaged, whereupon rectifier 3 is disconnected from transformer 5. Rectifier 3 is designed so that no D.C. current flows through transformer 5, thus no objectionable transient voltages are produced across transformer 5 by this switching process. The decay of current in coil 1 is hastened by dissipation through non-linear resistor 2. The rapid decay of current through coil 1 produces large transient voltages across said coil; to prevent said transient voltages from entering and possibly damaging transformer 5, the holding coil 23, sensitive to voltages across coil 1, holds switch 6 with contacts 22 engaged, for in this position coil 1 remains connected to rectifier 3 which is now disconnected from transformer 5. When the transient voltage has nearly died out, holding coil 23 can no longer hold switch 6 and, after a short time determined by viscosity damping, the blades of switch 6 engage contacts 25, thereby connecting coil 1 directly to transformer 5 so that nuclear free precession signals can be transmitted to the surface.

FIG. 3 shows those parts of the apparatus that are lowered into the well bore as they actually appear in the well. The coil 1 is the lowest part of the apparatus. In

this particular embodiment it is a solenoid with its axis parallel to the axis of the well and with diameter nearly equal to that of the well. The sample which supplies the nuclear precessions is in this case the matter and earth walls of the well 26 surrounding the coil, and since a signal may be obtained from signal producing material inside the coil as well as outside, the form on which the coil is mounted should contain no material which can produce a confusing signal. The form must also be nonconducting and capable of withstanding the high temperatures and pressures encountered in a deep well. The other components of the apparatus inside the well are enclosed in a casing 27 from which coil 1 is suspended by a short length of cable illustrated as lead wires 28. The distance between casing 27 and coil 1 must be great enough sothat ferromagnetic substances in container 27 do not appreciably perturb the magnetic fields around coil 1, but not so great that appreciable power losses .are produced in cable 28. Cable 8 extends to the surface above container 27.

FIG. 4 shows the switching circuit above the surface comprising sequencer 9, switch 10 and switch 11. Sequencer 9 consists of a motor controlled switch having a moving brush 29 and ring segments 31 and 32. When contact by brush 29 is made with segment 31, switch 10 33 are engaged by blades 34 to close the power source 4 to the cable 8; similarly, when brush 29 engages segment 32, switch 11 is actuated so that contacts 35 are engaged by blades 36 and the cable 8 is coupled through to amplifier 12. The time delay between the release of switch 10 and the actuation of switch 11 (or vice versa) is provided by an open space between segments 31 and 32. Alternatively, the sequencer may be a manually operated switch'29 and switch contacts 31 and 32'. Although the switches shown in this description have mechanical contacts, electronic gates would be equally suitable. The difierent lengths of time of polarizing (t t t in FIG. a) may be determined by changing the length of ring segment 31 for successive polarizations or by successively changing the rotational speed of brush 29 for succeeding polarization periods.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of this invention which is used when it is desiredto study how the relaxation time varies with the strength of the polarizing magnetic field. Although it is in principle possible to do this merely by varying the voltage output of thepolarizing supply 4, this method is not satisfactory in moderate or weak polarizing fields because the signal amplitude is then a function of both the polarizing field strength and the length of time said field is turned on, and in weak polarizing fields the free precession signal may be too weak to observe. The embodiment of FIG. 6 overcomes this objection by fully polarizing the nuclei in a strong magnetic field, then letting the polarization decay in a weak or moderate intermediate magnetic field which nevertheless has the characteristics of a polarizing field and then observing the free precession signal when the intermediate field is turned off. As before, this is done in a plurality of successive time periods or cycles, the intermediate magnetic field being applied for progressively longer periods. of time in the successive cycles.

In FIG. 6, sequencer 9 consists of two moving brush contacts 29 and 37 rotated in synchronism, for example by clockwork. When brush 29 first engages curved segment 31, switch is actuated and all operations are as described for FIG. 4 except that the circuit to the sweep generator is not closed at this instant of time. After a length of time longer than the estimated thermal relaxation time, brush 37 engages segment 38 actuating relay 39, whereby variable resistor 41 is placed in series between cable 8 and power source 4. Although the current supplied to the underground components depicted in FIG. 2 is thus much reduced, it is still sufiicient to keep relays 6 and 7 actuated. 'Ihe actuation of relay 39 also actuates .25 is actuated by current from source 4, whereby contacts sweep generator 15. After another length of time, determined by the operator by his positioning of segment 38 relative to 31 and 32, brush 29 leaves segment 31 and makes contact with segment 32, with the end result that a free precession signal is produced in the same manner as described for FIG. 4. Since resistor 41 is disconnected from cable 8 when relay 10 is released, the exact time when relay 39 is released and resistor 41 is shorted is im material, provided it is some time in the interval when brush 29 engages segment 32. By the positioning of segment 38 between successive runs, the time during which the intermediate polarizing magnetic field is applied is varied in a progressively increasing manner.

FIG. 7a shows typical superimposed oscilloscope traces of free precession signals of protons in a mixture of oil and water obtained with the embodiment of FIG. 6. Traces (j), (k) and (m) correspond to the free precession signals obtained when the intermediate field is left on for diiferent lengths of time (t t and t the initial amplitudes decreasing as the lengths of time increase. The initial amplitudes of these signals lie on a curve (n) which represents the decay of polarization. From the decrement of curve (n), the thermal relaxation time (T in the intermediate magnetic field can easily be determined.

FIG. 7b shows a plurality of polarization decay curves (p), (q), (r) and (s) such as curve (n) in FIG. 7a, the separate curves being obtained from substances A and B and mixtures of the same similar to the mixtures shown in FIG. 5b. Thus the polarization decay curves, representing the difference in thermal relaxation times T produce a handy tool by which the sample under investigation may be chemically analyzed.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of this invention that is used when it is desired to measure the thermal relaxation time (T in the same magnetic field that is used for precession, which will be assumed to be the earths field as in the case of well logging. There is first produced a strong polarizing magnetic field to initially polarize the nuclei in the sample. However, instead of turning the polarizing field off rapidly it is turned off slowly (for example, in 50 milliseconds) so that the nuclei in the sample, instead of precessing in the earths magnetic field, are lined up with the earths field. Later, at a time t the nuclei are still lined up with the earths magnetic field but have lost some of their polarization in the earths field according to e --t/T where T is the thermal relaxation time of the nuclei in the earths magnetic field. To discover just what this polarization is, there is applied a pulse of alternating magnetic field to the nuclei at the Larmor frequency of the nuclei and at an angle to the earths field sufficient to tip the magnetic moments of the nuclei relative to the earths field. At the termination of this pulse of alternating magnetic field the free precession of the nuclei in the earths field is detected, the initial amplitude of the free precession signal being a function of the elapsed time t. A series of readings are taken with progressively increasing values of t and from the initial amplitudes of the successive free precession signals one may obtain a decay curve from which the thermal relaxation time T of the nuclei may be determined.

The apparatus for accomplishing this is shown in FIG. 8 and operates as follows. Sequencer 9 consists of three brush contacts 29, 37 and 46, driven by a clock motor. When brush 29 first engages segment 31, switch 10 is actuated to couple the power source 4 through to cable 8 to the apparatus in the well bore. At this time all polarizing current from supply 4 to cable 8 must pass through sequencer 9 by means of the circuit consisting of brush 46 and segment contact 47. After a time long compared to the thermal relaxation time (T brush 46 engages and bridges contacts 48 in sequence for the purpose of introducing resistance 49 gradially into the polarizing circuit and reduce the polarizing current slowly tozero. Although step-wise contacts 48 are shown, a segment made of resistance material, as is used in radio volume controls, giving a continuously variable resistance is also practical. At the time that most of the resistance of resistor 49 is in the circuit, brush 37 engages segment 38, actuating relay 39. The closure of this relay 39 actuates sweep generator 15 and also impresses a small DC. voltage supplied by battery 51 onto cable 8. The purpose of this DC. voltage is as follows: If the A.C. current supplied from supply 4 were allowed to go slowly to zero with no other voltages on cable 8, a critical point would eventually be reached where the voltage on line 8 would be unable to hold relays 6 and 7 (FIG. 2). At this point the relays would release and current in coil 1 would decrease suddenly, an undesired effect in this embodiment. The .D.C. voltage or bias supplied on cable 4 has the effect of holding relays 6 and 7 while the A.C. component goes completely to zero. The DC. has no etfecton the current passing through coil 1, since transformer 5 will not passa DC. current. After the A.C. has gone to zero, brush 37 leaves contact 38, releasing relay.39, which thereby disconnects battery 51 so as to release relays 6 and 7 underground.

. The process of supplying a pulse of alternating magnetic field of the Larmor frequency to rotate the nuclear magnetic moments 90 after decrease of the polarization to zero is accomplished as follows After brush 29 has left segment31, but before it engages segment 32, it

nect'saudio generator 56 to cable 8 and thereby to transformer 5 and associated components. The power delivered by generator 56 is not sufiicient to operate relays 6 and 7, and therefore an alternating current is supplied to coil 1 for the specified period of time.

After application of the A.C. pulse, brush 29 engages segment 32 and a free precession signal can be observed. The oscilloscope traces obtained with this embodiment of the invention are similar to the traces of FIGS. 7a and 7b, the successive time intervals between the removal of the polarizing field and the initiation of the A.C. pulse for successive readings being variable by adjusting the time spacing between the instant brush 46 leaves the last contact of segment 48 (zero polarization) and the engagement of segment 52 by brush 29.

' There is disclosed in FIG. 9 another embodiment of the present invention for measuring the thermal relaxation time T which requires a substantially shorter operation time than the preceding embodiments. The above described embodiments require a plurality of separate cycles ofpolarization and free precession, each cycle rendering a single point on the polarization rise curve, each' polarization rise curve requiring about ten points as described above. This present embodiment provides for polarizing the nuclei in a succession of steps so as to build up the polarization to its full value in successive steps. The manner of accomplishing this is to polarize the nuclei for a time which is short compared to the thermal relaxation time T turning off the polarizing field and observing and measuring the amplitude of the free precession of the nuclei in the precessional magnetic field for a short period of time, then again polarizing the nuclei for a period of time similar to the first polarization time so as to further increase the polarization, again turning off the field and measuring the amplitude of the free precession signals and again repeating the aforementioned cycle until such time as the nuclei have been fully polarized. The envelope of the peak amplitudes of the free precession signals Will serve to give the thermal relaxation time of the atom portions. To accomplish this result the pulses of polarizing field are synchronized with the precessing nuclei so that, as the nuclei precess about the precessional magnetic field, for example, the earths magnetic field, and reach the direction at which they were originally polarized, that is the direction of the polarizing field, the polarizing field is applied. The nuclei will retain their original polarization and will progressively build up or increase the polarization. In between pulses of polarization the free precessional nuclear signal may be observed. It is important that the polarizing field pulses be correctly synchronized with the precessing nuclei since, should the polarizing field be turned on at an instant when the nuclei are not oriented in the direction of the polarizing field, the nuclei Will lose all or part of their original polarization.

Apparatus for accomplishing the above results is disclosed in FIG. 9. Assume for the moment that the nuclei are freely precessing in the earths magnetic field and, therefore, an alternating frequency wave of the Larmor frequency is being transmitted .to the amplifier 12 and thence, through the leads labeled OUTPUT, to the de tector and oscilloscope (not shown). Part of the output from the amplifier 12 is transmitted to a clipper circuit 61 where the audio frequency Waves are converted to square waves of the same frequency which are in turn transmitted to a gate circuit 62. The gate circuit 62 is controlled from a sequencer 9 which, at a certain instant of time, operates the gate circuit 62 to allow the square wave signal to be transmitted to a trigger circuit 63. The trigger circuit is so constructed that the first sharp edge of a given sign, say from plus to minus, of the incoming square wave actuates the trigger circuit to thereby transmit a long pluse through a variable phase shift or delay circuit 64 to a polarizing relay 65 which operates to connect a polarizing power supply 66 to the coil 1. The operation time of the trigger 63, the variable phase shift or delay circuit 64, and the relay 6-5 is arranged so that the polarizing current is closed to the coil 1 at the very instant of time that the precessing nuclei are oriented in the direction of the polarizing magnetic field produced by the coil 1. The time delay circuit 64 is adjustable to provide for accurate synchronization of the precessing nuclei and polarizing field. The relay 65 on operating closes a holding circuit from battery 67 through one of its windings and remains operated until the time controlled sequencer 9 operates relay 68 to open the circuit to the hold winding of relay 65 which releases to remove the polarizing magnetic field from coil 1 to again allow the nuclei to precess for a specific period of time as determined by the sequencer 9. Sequencer 9 again operates the gate circuit 62 after the specific time period to again apply the pulse of polarizing field, the cycle being repeated a number of times until full polarization is attained. Of course, at the start of a relaxation time T measurment, there will be no incoming nuclear precession signal to the clipper 61 and gate circuit 62 to actuate the trigger circuit 63 and therefore the first triggering must be started manual- 1y as by a starting switch 69 which also synchronizes the sequencer 9 with the start time. The sweep generator and oscilloscope (not shown) are also actuated at the beginning of polarization.

The trace obtained with the embodiment of FIG. 9 is shown in FIG. 10, there being depicted the plurality of successive free precession signals following successive polarization pulses, the envelope of the peak amplitudes of the free precession signals shown in dotted line serving to indicate the thermal relaxation time T of the atom portions in the sample under investigation in the same manner as the trace in FIG. 5a.

It should be understood that the embodiments described above for accomplishing thermal relaxation time measurements are only illustrative of methods and means by which this result may be achieved. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in the apparatus disclosed above. For example, two separate coils may be used in the signal head, one coil serving to polarize the atom portions and the other coil serving to pick up the precession signal of the atom portions in the precessional magnetic field. Although the systew shown in FIG. 1 transmits AC. power into the oil well where it is converted to D-C- power for polarizing, since this is the most convenient method for oil well logging, in other embodiments of the invention the DC. current may be supplied directly from a D.C. power source as, for example, in FIG. 9. It is also apparent that one could employ electronic computer circuitry to automatically take the output from the receiver system and compute the thermal relaxation times of the sample rather than record the polarization curves and measure the thermal relaxation time. The electronic computer method of indicating relaxation time would be more expensive of course but would be much more rapid and acurate, and thus more suitable for extended use of this invention. Since many changes could be made in the above-described constructions and many apparently Widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. The method for determining the thermal relaxation time T of a sample of matter possessing gyromagnetic atom portions in a first unidirectional magnetic field comprising the steps of providing a second unidirectional magnetic field to the sample stronger than and at an angle to the first magnetic field for polarizing the atom portions of said second magnetic field, said second magnetic field being applied in a plurality of time spaced pulses followed by periods of no polarization, the time of each of said pulses and the time of each of the no polarization periods being substantially less than the thermal relaxation time of the sample with reference to the second magnetic field, the polarized atom portions precessing in the first magnetic field after each successive polarizing pulse, the application of each polarizing pulse being synchronized with the precession frequency of the freely-precessing atom portions so that the polarizing field is applied at the instants in time when a component of the magnetic moments of the precessing atom portions is oriented in the direction of said polarizing field, and detecting the free precession of the atom portions between polarizing pulses, the initial amplitudes of the free precession signals building up as the polarization of the atom portions builds up, the peak amplitudes defining a polarization curve from which the thermal relaxation time of the sample may be determined.

2. Apparatus for determining the thermal relaxation time T of a sample of matter possessing gyromagnetic atom portions in a first unidirectional magnetic field comprising means for providing a second unidirectional magnetic field to the sample stronger than and at an angle to the first magnetic field for polarizing the atom portions of said second magnetic field, said second magnetic field being applied in a plurality of time spaced pulses followed by periods of no polarization, the time of each of said pulses and the time of each of the no polarization periods being substantially less than the thermal relaxation time of the sample with reference to the second magnetic field, the polarized atoms portions precessing in the first magnetic field after each successive polarizing pulse, the application of each polarizing pulse being synchronized with the precession frequency of the freely precessing atom portions so that the polarizing field is applied at the instants in time when a component of the magnetic moments of the precessing atom portions is oriented in the direction of said polarizing field, and means for detecting the free precession of the atom portions between polarizing pulses, the initial amplitudes of the free precession signals building up as the polarization of the atom portions builds up, the peak amplitudes defining a polarization curve from which the thermal relaxa tion time of the sample may be determined.

3. Apparatus for determining the thermal relaxation time T of a sample of matter possessing gyromagnetic atom portions in a first unidirectional magnetic field comprising means for providing a second unidirectional magnetic field to the sample stronger than and at an angle to the first magnetic field for polarizing the atom portions in said second magnetic field, sequencer means for operating said polarizing means in a plurality of time spaced stages, each stage including a short pulse of polarizing magnetic field for a time substantially less than the estimated thermal relaxation time of the sample with reference to the polarizing field, followed by a short period of no polarization during which free precession of the atom portions in said first magnetic field may be detected, each successive pulse of polarizing magnetic field being synchronized with the precessing nuclei so as to polarize the nuclei at the time in their precession cycle when they are oriented in the direction of said polarizing magnetic field, and means for detecting the free precession signals from the atom portions between each successive pulse of polarizing magnetic field, and for indicating the peak amplitudes of said free precession signals, the envelope of said peak amplitudes serving to indicate the thermal relaxation time of the sample.

4. The method of determining the thermal relaxation time T of a sample of matter possessing gyromagnetic atom portions in a first unidirectional magnetic field comprising the steps of providing a second unidirectional magnetic field to the sample stronger than and at an angle to the first magnetic field for polarizing the atom portions in said second magnetic field, operating said polar-v izing means in a plurality of time spaced stages, each stage including a shor pulse of polarizing magnetic field for a time substantially less than the estimated thermal relaxation time of the sample with reference to the polarizing field, followed by a short period of no polarization during which free precession of the atom portions in said first magnetic field may be detected, each successive pulse of polarizing magnetic field being synchronized with the precessing nuclei so as to polarize the nuclei at the time in their precession cycle when they are oriented in the direction of said polarizing magnetic field, detecting the free precession signals from the atom portions between each successive pulse of polarizing magnetic field, and indicating the peak amplitudes of said free precession signals, the envelope of said peak amplitudes serving to indicate the thermal relaxation time of the sample.

5. Apparatus for logging wells by determining the thermal relaxation time T of atom portions possessing the properties of magnetic moment and gyroscopic moment and comprising portions of the formation material in sections of the bore along the length of the well bore, including means for applying a unidirectional magnetic field to the atom portions stronger than and at an angle to the earths magnetic field for polarizing the atom portions of said unidirectional magnetic field, said unidirectional magnetic field being applied in a plurality of time spaced pulses followed by periods of no polarization, the time of each of said pulses and the time of each of the no polarization of each of said pulses and the time of each of the no polarization periods being substantially less than the thermal relaxation time of the atom portions, with reference to the unidirectional magnetic field, the polarized atom portions precessing in the earths magnetic field after each successive polarizing pulse, the application of each polarizing pulse being synchronized with the precession frequency of the freely precessing atom portions so that the polarizing field is applied at the instants in time when a component of the magnetic moments of the precessing atom portions is oriented in the direction of said polarizing field, and detecting the free precession of the atom portions between polarizing pulses, the initial amplitudes of the free precession signals building up as the polarization of the atom portions builds up, the peak amplitudes defining a polarization curve from which the 13 thermal relaxation time of the atom portions may be determined.

6. The method for logging Wells by determining the thermal relaxation time T of atom portions possessing the properties of magnetic moment and gyroscopic moment and comprising portions of the formation material in sections of the bore along the length of the well bore, including the steps of applying a unidirectional magnetic field to the atom portions stronger than and at an angle to the earths magnetic field for polarizing the atom portions of said unidirectional magnetic field, said unidirectional magnetic field being applied in a plurality of time spaced pulses followed by periods of no polarization, the time of each of said pulses and the time of each of the no polarization periods being substantially less than the thermal relaxation time of the atom portions with reference 'to the unidirection magnetic field, the polarized atom portions precessing in the earths magnetic field after each successive polarizing pulse, the application of each polarizing pulse being synchronized with the precession frequency of the freely precessing atom portions so that the polarizing field is applied at the instants in time when a component of the magnetic moments of the precessing atom portions is oriented in the direction of said polarizing field, and means for detecting the free precession of the atom portions between polarizing pulses, the initial amplitudes of the free precession signals building up as the polarization of the atom portions builds up, the peak amplitudes defining a polarization curve from which the thermal relaxation time of the atom portions may be determined.

7. Apparatus for logging well bores by determining the thermal relaxation time T of atom portions within the bore formations comprising means for providing a unidirectional magnetic field to the atom portions stronger than and at an angle to the earths magnetic field for polarizing the atom portions in said unidirectional magnetic field, sequencer means for operating said polarizing means in a plurality of time spaced stages, each stage including a short pulse of polarizing magnetic field for a time substantially less than the estimated thermal relaxation time of the sample, followed by a short period of no polarization during which free precession of the atom portions in the earths magnetic field may be detected, each successive pulse of polarizing magnetic field being synchronized with the precessing nuclei so as to polarize the atom portions at the time in their precession cycle when they are oriented in the direction of said polarizing magnetic field, and means for detecting the free precession signals from the atom portions between each successive pulse of polarizing magnetic field, and for indicating the peak amplitudes of said free precession signals, the envelope of said peak amplitudes serving to indicate the thermal relaxation time of the atom portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1964 Codrengton 3245 6/1964 Baker et al 3245 OTHER REFERENCES RUDOLPH V. ROLINEC, Primary Examiner.

MAYNARD R. WILBUR, C. L. JUSTUS, WALTER L. CARLSON, LEWIS H. MYERS, Examiners.

A. E. RICHMOND, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THE METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE THERMAL RELAXATION TIME T1 OF A SAMPLE OF MATTER POSSESSING GYROMAGNETIC ATOM PORTIONS IN A FIRST UNIDIRECTIONAL MAGNETIC FIELD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PROVIDING A SECOND UNDIRECTIONAL MAGNETIC FIELD TO THE SAMPLE STRONGER THAN AND AT AN ANGLE TO THE FIRST MAGNETIC FIELD FOR POLARIZING THE ATOM PORTIONS OF SAID SECOND MAGNETIC FIELD, SAID SECOND MAGNETIC FIELD BEING APPLIED IN A PLURALITY OF TIME SPACED PULSES FOLLOWED BY PERIODS OF NO POLARIZATION, THE TIME OF EACH OF SAID PULSES AND THE TIME OF EACH OF THE NO POLARIZATION PERIODS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE THERMAL RELAXATION TIME OF THE SAMPLE WITH REFERENCE TO THE SECOND MAGNETIC FIELD, THE POLARIZED ATOM PORTIONS PRECESSING IN THE FIRST MAGNETIC FIELD AFTER EACH SUCCESSIVE POLARIZING PULSE, THE APPLICATION OF EACH POLARIZING PULSE BEING SYNCHRONIZED WITH THE PRECESSION FREQUENCY OF THE FREELY PRECESSING ATOM PORTIONS SO THAT THE POLARIZING FIELD IS APPLIED AT THE INSTANTS IN TIME WHEN A COMPONENT OF THE MAGNETIC MOMENTS IF THE PRECESSING ATOM PORTIONS IS ORIENTED IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID POLARIZING FIELD, AND DETECTING THE FREE PRECESSION OF THE ATOM PORTIONS BETWEEN POLARIZING PULSES, THE INITIAL AMPLITUDES OF THE FREE PRECESSION SIGNALS BUILDING UP AS THE POLARIZATION OF THE ATOM PORTIONS BUILDS UP, THE PEAK AMPLITUDES DEFINING A POLARIZATION CURVE FROM WHICH THE THERMAL RELAXATION TIME OF THE SAMPLE MAY BE DETERMINED. 